October 2019 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

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PROUD TO COVER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN THE THUMB 

October 2019 | Volume 7 Issue 10 

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Owner Jason Parmenter 

Magazine Design Alissa Klee 

Photo Editor Kaitlin Gunsell 

Office Manager Brenda Tomlinson 

Regularly Contributing Photographers 

Kaitlin Gunsell - Kaitlin’s Klicks 

Brittany Stilson - BLS Photography 

Gary Koelzer - Gary Koelzer Photography 

Jason Parmenter - Quad N Productions 

Find our photos for sale at: 

www.misportsphotos.com 

View online at 

www.varsitymonthlythumb.com 

Varsity Monthly Thumb has no liability for 

content, representations in advertisements, 

and articles may not express the opinion 

of the editors/publishers/owners. It is the 

buyer’s sole responsibility to clarify any and 

all advertising representations. Any burden of 

proof rests solely on the advertisers. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb reserves the right 

to edit or refuse any advertising or articles 

submitted for publication. We do not assume 

any liability for errors, but will correct it in 

next issue or a credit will be negotiated. 

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property of Varsity Monthly Thumb. 

Articles, editorials opinions in Varsity 

Monthly Thumb do not necessarily reflect the 

opinions of the staff of Varsity Monthly Thumb 

or the publishers. 

Copyright by Quad N Productions, LLC. All 

or part of Varsity Monthly Thumb, including 

photographs, stories and logos, cannot be 

reprinted without permission. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb is published 12 

times a year by Quad N Productions, LLC, 189 

N State St., Caro, MI 48723 

Phone: 989-673-5826 

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Varsity Monthly Thumb 

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Inside 

What’s 

6 VG’s Players of the Month 

7 Mayville 

8 Bad Axe 

10 Caro 

12 Millington 

14 Cass City 

16 Frankenmuth 

18 Reese 

20 Kingston 

21 Bay City All Saints 

22 Sandusky 

24 North Branch 

26 Caro 

28 Lakers 

30 North Huron 

31 Akron-Fairgrove 

32 Vassar 

34 Cass City 

36 Deckerville 

37 Owen-Gage 

38 Caro 

40 Marlette 

42 Cros-Lex 

44 USA 

46 CPS 

47 Caseville 

48 Brown City 

49 Peck 

50 Bad Axe 

52 Sandusky 

53 USA 

54 Frankenmuth 

56 North Branch 

58 Ubly 

60 Cros-Lex 

62 Harbor Beach 

COVER IMAGE: Caro Senior Ellie 

Hornbacher. Photo by Kaitlin Gunsell 

Featured Photographer 

Brittany Stilson is a lifelong 

thumb resident and 2018 

Cass City graduate. After 

high school, she decided to 

take a year to explore her 

interest in photography and 

to develop her business, BLS 

Photography. Brittany had 

met some of the other Varsity 

Monthly photographers at her 

high school sporting events, and ended up having a 

conversation with them about an intern type position. 

Brittany spent the 2018-2019 school year working with 

Quad N Productions on improving her photography 

skills, learning photo editing, and gaining knowledge on 

how to run a successful photography business. Brittany 

quickly became a huge asset to Quad N Productions, 

a regularly contributing Varsity Monthly Thumb 

photographer, and is on her way to being one of the top 

action photographers in the Thumb. Brittany continues 

to grow her own photography business by doing senior 

and family photo sessions. She also continues to do 

freelance work for Quad N Productions and we are very 

glad to have her back for another year as a regularly 

contributing photographer for the magazine.

ADVERTISER OF THE MONTH 

Northstar Bank. 

Dedicated to you. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb is pleased to announce Northstar Bank as our 

Advertiser of the Month. Northstar Bank opened its first branch in Bad 

Axe with 11 employees in February 2001. Since then, Northstar Bank 

has experienced tremendous growth due to the support of its local 

communities and dedicated staff. Northstar Bank now has 11 locations 

and employs 107 banking professionals. For a full list of their locations and 

personal and business banking services, please check out their website at 

www.northstarathome.com. Northstar Bank is strongly committed to the 

communities in which they live and serve. Northstar Bank, its employees 

and board of directors provide extensive support in both time and money 

to numerous civic, religious and community based activities and projects. 

This commitment to community is what causes them to be a faithful 

advertiser in Varsity Monthly Thumb magazine. Please help us thank 

Northstar Bank by choosing them to meet your banking needs. 



VG’s GROCERY 

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH 

Winners are selected for their athletic accomplishments, leadership roles, and 

community impact as the Players of the Month. Not only are the players of the 

month featured in the magazine and recieve a Player of the Month T-Shirt, VG’s also 

provide’s each athlete with a $25 gift card! 

THE CARO VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAS TURNED INTO 

A CONTENDER IN THE GREATER THUMB WEST 

CONFERENCE THIS SEASON, AND OUTSIDE HITTER 

KAITLYN AREBELO IS A BIG REASON FOR THAT. 

Arebelo, a senior, had an outstanding month of September, playing in 49 

sets and leading the Tigers to a 13-4-2 record. 

“Kaitlyn is playing amazing,” said Caro head coach Bob Tobey. “She is 

dominating in the front row as most teams struggle to control her hits 

and she puts up a block that is intimidating to the opponents.” 

In her 49 sets played over the past month, Arebelo had 368 attacks, 148 

kills, a 40 percent kills rate and a .283 kill percentage. 

She also plays setter when rotated to the back row, and there, she had 

183 assists. Arebelo averaged 2.51 digs, finishing the month with 123 digs. 

She has also added 47 blocks and nine aces, along with a 94.1 serving 

percentage. Her season totals are helping to put her name in the Caro 

volleyball record book as well. “To date for the season, she has 242 kills, 302 

assists, 213 digs, 18 aces and 83 blocks,” Tobey said. 

“Those blocks give her a career mark of 288 blocks, which puts her fourth 

on the career list at Caro High School.” 

The Tigers are currently in second place in the Greater Thumb West, with 

a 6-2 record, behind Cass City. 

In those eight matches, Arebelo has 114 kills and 128 digs. 

At the Croswell-Lexington Invitational, where the Tigers took first place in 

the Silver Bracket, Arebelo had 26 kills, 35 assist, 26 digs and eight blocks. 

At the Tiger 1 Tournament, Caro finished runner-up and Arebelo had 34 

kills, 40 assists, 28 digs and 12 blocks. 

KAITLYN 

AREBELO 

CARO 

VOLLEYBALL 

TWO SPORTS AT NORTH BRANCH ARE 

BENEFITTING FROM THE LEG OF RYAN DEWITTE. 

Dewitte, a senior, is a middle fielder on the Broncos soccer team, 

and the place kicker on the football 

team. “Ryan is a team captain and he made the switch from 

forward to center midfielder so that we could take 

advantage of his defensive ability,” said North Branch soccer 

coach John Burke. “Ryan makes the players 

around him better, which is what you want from your best 

players.” During the month of September, Dewitte scored six 

goals and had seven assists for the Broncos, leading 

them to a 7-7-2 overall regular season record. 

In the opening round of districts, Dewitte helped guide North 

Branch to a 1-0 victory against Marysville. 

“Our defense was amazing all game,” Burke said following the 

victory. “Ryan was fantastic at both ends 

of the field.” 

Burke also added that Dewitte has garnered the interest of 

several colleges for soccer, including Northern Michigan, 

Lawrence Tech and Tiffin. On the football team, Dewitte has 

been a big contribution to a team that is having a big season. 

The Broncos are currently 5-2 overall and Dewitte has scored 38 

points from his kicker position. 

He has made one field goal, a 36-yarder against Algonac, and 

has hit 35 extra point attempts. Dewitte was 8-of-10 on extra 

points in the season opener against LakeVille, and was a perfect 

8-of-8 in North Branch’s 56-0 victory over Yale. In the Bronco’s 

last two contests, Dewitte has also taken over punter duties. 

Against Richmond, he boomed a 42-yard punt, and then against 

Imlay City, had two punts, for 70 yards, including one that was 

downed inside the 20 yard line. 

RYAN 

DEWITTE 

NORTH BRANCH 

SOCCER & 

FOOTBALL 


MAYVILLE 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-5-19 OWENGAGE AT MAYVILLE 

Photography by Gary Koelzer 


BAD AXE 

SOCCER 

9-16-19 BAD AXE AT USA 

Photography by Jason Parmenter 

Alissa Klee Design 

Graphic Design & Marketing Specialist 

alissakleedesign | almaeklee@gmail.com 



CARO 

FOOTBALL 

9-27-19 LAKERS AT CARO 


DOING WHAT’S BEST 

IN PRIMARY CARE 

Ashley Young, NP-C 

201 W. Huron Ave, Vassar 

(989) 432-3040 

Tuesday - Friday 

8:00 am - 6:00 pm 

Heather Fryers, FNP-BC 

220 E. Frank St, Caro 

(989) 672-5733 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 

8:00 am - 4:30 pm 

Friday 8:00 am – Noon 



MILLINGTON 

FOOTBALL 

9-27-19 BULLOCK CREEK AT MILLINGTON 

Photography by Kaitlin Gunsell 



CASS CITY 

CROSS COUNTRY 

BAD AXE INVITATIONAL 

Photography by Brittany Stilson 


Reggie Ignash 

covers Michigan 

Auto, Home, Life, Business, 

Farm and more 

(989) 872-4432 

6505 Main St., Cass City 

rignash@fbinsmi.com 

ReggieIgnashAgency.com 


FRANKENMUTH 

CROSS COUNTRY 

9-24-19 FRANKENMUTH AT GARBER 




REESE 

VOLLEYBALL 

10-1-19 CASS CITY AT REESE 




KINGSTON 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-12-19 NORTH HURON AT KINGSTON 



BAY CITY 

ALL SAINTS 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-26-19 BCAS AT CPS 



SANDUSKY 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-26-19 SANDUSKY AT UBLY 



Proudly Supporting 

Our Redskins! 

307 Sanilac Rd. 

(810) 648-3030 


NORTH 

BRANCH 

SOCCER 

9-13-19 NORTH BRANCH AT HARBOR BEACH 




CARO 

VOLLEYBALL 

10-3-19 BAD AXE AT CARO 


Kristina M. Chapelo 

Ph: 989-553-2428 Fax: 989-672-6052 

Associate Broker, Real Estate One-Caro 

kristinachapelo@realestateone.net 

361 N State St, #4, Caro, MI 48723 


25 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS SERVICE 


LAKERS 

FOOTBALL 

9-13-19 BAD AXE AT LAKERS 



Lost chemistry 

with your bank? 

Try our formula! 

www.northstarathome.com 


NORTH 

HURON 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-12-19 NORTH HURON AT KINGSTON 



AKRON- 

FAIRGROVE 

FOOTBALL 

10-11-19 OWENGAGE AT AKRON-FAIRGROVE 



VASSAR 

FOOTBALL 

9-13-19 REESE AT VASSAR 




CASS CITY 

SWIM 

9-24-19 CARO AT GARBER 



CASS CITY 

SOCCER 

9-9-19 USA AT CARO 



DECKERVILLE 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-7-19 CROS-LEX INVITATIONAL 



OWENGAGE 

VOLLEYBALL 

10-11-19 OWENGAGE AT AKRON-FAIRGROVE 



CARO 

SWIM 

9-24-19 CARO AT GARBER 



Your local agent insures your 

and more 

David Soper 

1701 W. Caro Road 

Caro 

989-673-5588 

dsoper@fbinsmi.com 

DavidWSoperAgency.com 


MARLETTE 

CROSS COUNTRY 

10-9-19 UBLY INVITE 



PURCHASE PRINTS AT 

MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM 


CROS-LEX 

FOOTBALL 

9-6-19 YALE AT CROS-LEX 




USA 

VOLLEYBALL 

10-10 CARO AT USA 


Your local agent insures your 

and more 

David Soper 

1701 W. Caro Road 

Caro 

989-673-5588 

dsoper@fbinsmi.com 

DavidWSoperAgency.com 



CARSONVILLE 

PORT SANILAC 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-26-19 BCAS AT CPS 



CASEVILLE 

FOOTBALL 

8-30-19 CASEVILLE AT INTERNATIONAL 

ACADEMY FLINT 



BROWN CITY 

VOLLEYBALL 




PECK 

FOOTBALL 

9-27-19 PECK AT MAYVILLE 

Photography by Gary Koelzer 


BAD AXE 

CROSS COUNTRY 

9-7-18 BAD AXE INVITATIONAL 




SANDUSKY 

TENNIS 

8-16-19 TENNIS TOURNAMENT 



USA 

SOCCER 

9-16-19 BAD AXE AT USA 



FRANKENMUTH 

SOCCER 

9-23-19 BIRCH RUN AT FRANKENMUTH 




NORTH 

BRANCH 

CROSS COUNTRY 

9-7-19 BAX AXE INVITATIONAL 



Best Wishes Teams! 

Proud Community Supporter 


UBLY 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-26-19 SANDUSKY AT UBLY 




CROS-LEX 

VOLLEYBALL 

9-7-19 CROS-LEX VARSITY INVITATIONAL 




HARBOR 

BEACH 

VOLLEYBALL

October 2019 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

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